There are two ways to purchase under the Right to Buy
- Buying the home outright;
- Buying the home on "rent to mortgage" terms.
Details of both methods may be found in the booklet 'Your Right to Buy Your Home' which is available at Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website. The website contains information about:
- Who has the right to buy
- Rent to mortgage terms
- The discount rules
- The costs of buying
- Buying your own flat or maisonette
- Getting your mortgage
- Delays or problems with the sale
- Moving on later
Time spent with other public sector landlords can count towards the amount of discount a tenant receives on the price of a home. There does not have to be continuous occupancy in public sector accommodation.
This is referred to as the Qualifying Period. The amount of discount cannot exceed the maximum discount limit which is set at £16,000 for most London boroughs. The discount for Barking and Dagenham and Havering is £38,000.
The DCLG website contains information on buying your own home but is not a complete and authoritative statement of the law. For more information about legal rights under the Right to Buy individuals should contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or consult a solicitor.
